Former teacher avoids jail for child porn possession

Macomb Daily staff photos by David N. Posevetz
Vincent Battani appears in Macomb County Circuit Court in Mount Clemens on Thursday for his sentencing on possessing child pornography and using a computer to commit a crime. He received probation.

A former middle school teacher’s arrest for child pornography charges prevented him from possibly acting on the urge to engage in sexual activity with youths, a judge said.

Vincent J. Battani, 27, of Warren, received no jail time and five years probation Thursday at his sentencing for no-contest pleas for one count each of child pornography possession and using a computer to commit a crime.

Battani, who taught at Jefferson Middle School in Lakeview Public Schools in St. Clair Shores, was arrested in June after police were tipped off that he was hosting parties at his home and spending time with teenagers. He was accused of texting one teen, “are u alone,” and, “when can we have some private time?” But the girl who made that allegation later recanted.

“There was no actual abuse. It was getting close,” she said. “It seems to have been on the horizon.”

She commended the person or persons who alerted authorities, resulting in Battani’s suspension from his job and subsequent arrest.

“I think him continuing in that job would have been completely unfair to the parents and the families of the children,” the judge said.

Battani’s attorney, Joe Kosmala, after the sentencing said that the evidence doesn’t necessarily mean Battani would have followed through with physical contact.

“That’s (abuse would have occurred) the implication,” Kosmala said. “But I don’t know if that’s true or not. It was misguided, mixed up. This young man hadn’t come to grips on dealing with the sexuality of children.”

Police seized his computer and found two videos, one featuring child pornography and the second featuring ambiguous behavior. He was arrested in June.

Battani apologized to the court, his friends, former co-workers and family, including six supporters who accompanied him to the hearing in Macomb County Circuit Court in Mount Clemens.

“I’m upset with my decisions,” he said. “I’m working very hard to make sure this never happens again.”

Judge Druzinski could have sentenced him up to one year in the Macomb County Jail but agreed with probation, noting that Battani is “doing well” in psychological therapy.

She said jail would disrupt his treatment and wouldn’t “serve any useful purpose.”

She noted that except for one slip-up, Battani has complied with his bond conditions and has been on house arrest via an electronic tether for many months.

He has no prior criminal record.

She cautioned that if Battani violates any of his several probation conditions, “I won’t deliberate too long to send you to prison.”

Battani cannot have contact with anyone under age 17 unless a relative or family member, and an adult is present.

He can visit his parents at their Roseville home only on weekends because they live across from the middle school that he attended and taught at, the judge said.

Druzinski limited him to having access to only one computer, and probation officials can search it at any time to ensure he is not accessing sexual or child-related Internet sites. His cellphone can’t have Internet access, she said.

Battani was active in social media prior to his arrest. After he was suspended, Lakeview officials obtained a court order to stop him from electronically contacting former students and school staff.

Battani was valedictorian of the 2004 class at Roseville High School and graduated in 2010 from Wayne State University. He worked as an instructional aid in Roseville Community Schools before teaching at Jefferson for two years.